Princess Cut Diamonds
Short Description
The face-up shape of the princess cut is sharp, square or rectangular and the profile or side-on shape is similar to that of an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. This cut is the second most popular in the world cut shape for diamonds, next to a round brilliant. Women and men are both drawn to two of the simplest shapes of diamonds. A round brilliant cut is really based on a circle and the princess cut is based on a square.
Characteristics
The Princess cut is a more distinctive alternative to the more popular round brilliant cut - it is based on a square, when the brilliant is based on a circle. In this cut the top of diamond, called the crown, is cut with a round face-up shape and the bottom, called the pavilion, is shaped similar to a cone.
A princess cut diamond is immensely popular because of the amount of sparkle that it creates. The sparkle of a princess cut diamond is very similar to the sparkle you see with a round brilliant cut diamond.
Another reason a princess cut diamond is popular is because it can cost less than other cuts of diamonds. This is because a princess cut diamond works to lessen the flaws that may be in a diamond in such a way as they are not noticeable to the naked eye.
History
The princess cut is a relatively new diamond cut, having been created in the 1960s. It has gained in popularity in recent years as a more distinctive alternative to the more popular round brilliant cut, in which the top of diamond, called the crown, is cut with a round face-up shape and the bottom, called the pavilion, is shaped similar to a cone.
Buying Advice
Princess cut diamonds are able to utilize more of the original rough diamond. Other cuts of diamond on average can only use 40 to 50 percent of the original diamond. Even though the round brilliant cut is the most popular cut of diamond, it weighs more because more of the rough diamond must be cut away in order to create a round brilliant diamond. When you compare the prices of the two cuts, a whole carat of princess cut diamond will sell for about the same as would .80 of a carat of a round brilliant cut diamond. Princess cut diamonds with a depth of 58-76% and table of 58-77%, with smaller depth and table percentages are usually preferred.
Celebrity who said yes to Princess Cut
Jessica Biel weara a spectacular six carat diamond, it’s a princess cut diamond with two tiny aquamarines on either side.
How do you choose a princess cut diamond that stands out?
When choosing a princess cut diamond, it is important to make sure the diamond has a medium to high color grading. Because of the pointed edges, yellow flecks tend to gather in the edges, making them more visible than they would be in other diamond shapes. Although it is a low grade on the color scale, the diamond is still beautiful to many people. Some people prefer the warm glow of the yellow diamond over a clear or white diamond.
